Imagine recreating this visual verbally! I wouldn’t be satisfied with the result unless it was penned down in Dylan style – with so much said in just a few words.

Sometimes, visuals can make people understand and feel things that words can’t.

A few months ago, when I was buried in research for a visual marketing piece, I came across an interview of Marcel Just, a cognitive imaging expert. In his interview with the Nieman Foundation at Harvard, he said that the human brain was built to process visual cues in nature, and that text was an artifact invented by man.

By design, our minds are more inclined towards visual communication than they are to text.

Social media and blogs require a certain frequency of posting to remain “viable” and effective.

What if design is not your discipline? How would you create powerful visuals often enough to keep up with that frequency? Most marketers I know (myself included) have no real experience with design. Should this limit us in the visual space?

It doesn’t have to. Fortunately for us, there are reliable visual resources to curate content from. This is a guide on where to find visual content resources and how best to use them.

Not all images on the internet are off limits for commercial use (some of them are). Unless someone has copyrights over the image, you’re free to use it.

Even so, considering the effort it takes to create an image, you should in the least attribute its creator. Most people appreciate the credit and may even help you promote the content featuring their visuals.

The first logical move when you’re seeking an image is to do a quick Google search (in the image category). The results that you get can be filtered to display only the copyright free images or “Images for reuse” using the “Search Tools”.

When I first did this I noticed that most of the sorted results belonged to the same sites – sites that have reserves of copyright free images for people to use. Pexels and Pixabay are two such sites. They also have their own search engines that you can use to find relevant images.

When searching for an image for a social media or blog post, search with emotive or action words instead of simply using keywords that you might use for SEO.

2. Curate GIFs from directories like GIPHY, GIF bin and apps like DrumUp.

GIFs have become increasingly popular on social media, and they’re a fun way to respond to a comment or add humor to a post on social media. Marketers are constantly talking about making marketing more “human” and a GIF is a great way to do that.

On blog posts, you could use GIFs to lighten up dense topics (like Shonali did here). GIF resources like GIPHY have them stored in emotion and action based categories like happy, applause or agree – so they’re easy to place in context. Here is a good example of GIF usage:

If you’re looking for a GIF to fit a very specific post, you could search using the tags on GIF bin. They store GIFs under everything from boxing to balloons.

If you want to schedule GIFs ahead of time, or add them to your curated content, you could do that on DrumUp, a content management app (disclosure: DrumUp is a client of the Godot Media, the company I represent).

3. Frame relevant screen shots on blog posts or social media posts to illustrate an argument or example.

A good rule in writing is to show, not tell, and this format works beautifully on how-to, tips and tactics posts.

Also, on the internet, a screen-shot may be the easiest way to transfer information quick and unadulterated.

I’ve used screen-shots on most posts that I’ve written, and they can be used a good many ways. You could use them to instruct your audience on how to use an application, direct your audience’s attention at what you’re explaining, or use them to illustrate an example. The only real necessity is a screen capture app, and you have several options to choose from.

4. Curate expert quotes or tips on simple backdrops to share on your social media pages.

Leaders in your industry are creating inspiring content every day. Why not share that inspiration with your audience?

When creating a blog or social media post on a specific topic, I like to do a quick search to see what the experts have to say about it. Most times, there’s someone who can say it better than I can, and up goes a quote (with proper attribution) for my audience to enjoy.

When curating quotes, beware of secondary references. Not all sources are credible and accurate.

It is best to trace every quote you use to its primary source and add that as reference on your posts. The primary source will either be a site of higher authority than your secondary source (better to link out to than a poorly ranked secondary source site), or one of lower authority than your secondary source. In the second case, you should probably drop the quote as it may not be authentic.

Verify everything you place on your social media page or blog because it reflects your brand’s image.

Once you have a brilliant quote with a genuine reference, you simply need a backdrop to place it on. You could use a quote specific app like QuotesCover or an appropriate template on Canva.

You simply need to know where to find visuals to curate and how to use them on your posts, and you are now equipped with that knowledge.

Jessica Davis has a keen interest in social media and content marketing, and writes extensively about it. She represents Godot Media, a leading content marketing firm that also offers blog writing services.

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Today, good public relations entails much more than blindly blanketing the media (and bloggers) with information that’s of dubious value to begin with. And more often than not, it entails a strong element of building and managing online community. In this workshop, you will:

Learn the three key elements of an effective 21st century “social PR” strategy, and how it differs from “old” PR

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We have more measurement tools than ever before; so many, that we don't know what to do with most of them. And no matter how good a tool is, you still need smart people using it in a smart way, to derive the most benefit. In this workshop, you will:

Learn the basics of good PR measurement and, conversely, the seven deadly sins of bad measurement

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Gone are the days when “social media” was the domain of your twenty-something employees. Today, social platforms are where your customers and constituents of all ages and stages literally live online. If you’re a business leader, you should take this workshop to:

Learn the three core principles of effective social media engagement

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Heidi has a track record of success in P&L management, corporate strategy, product marketing and top line growth, and spent 14 years in leadership roles at Cision, during which time she oversaw the company’s integration and multiple product marketing strategies through its seven acquisitions.

Heidi was named one of PRWeek’s “40 Under 40 Rising Stars,” “Influencer of the Year” by The Hub in association with LinkedIn, and one of the most influential people in PR by PRWeek’s “Global Power Book.” She was also co-host of the popular “Influence Pros” podcast on Convince & Convert, which was named one of the top 20 marketing podcasts of 2016 by Hey.com.

Jennifer Zingsheim Phillips

Jennifer Zingsheim Phillips has worked in communications and public affairs for nearly 20 years. Her background includes work in electoral politics, government, lobbying, and public affairs PR work. She also brings nearly eight years of experience in digital and social communications and media analysis to her role at 4L Strategies.

Jen began her career doing campaign work in Missouri during the 1992 election cycle. After two years of political party work, she joined the office of a Missouri state senator and served as his legislative aide for two years. In 1996, she joined the Missouri Chamber of Commerce as Research Director, where she lobbied the Missouri House and Senate on issues such as workforce development, welfare reform, and education policy. She was also responsible for the weekly newsletter highlighting key issues relevant to Missouri Chamber members.

In her spare time, Jen is a voracious reader, and enjoys cooking and baking. She also likes to write fiction, and has had two pieces of short fiction and one piece of flash fiction published in various publications. She has also self-published a children’s book.